Complain about a product or service

Ford Focus

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

The Focus is a nice-looking little car. And it replaced the truly execrable Escort. There, we said something good about it. Unfortunately, for way too many owners, that about exhausts the list of compliments. The Focus has so far set a record for safety recalls (would you believe 10?) and it may just be getting started.

Ford Focus • Fires • Brakes • Ignition • Stalling, Sputtering • Transmission • Water Leaks • Everything! News • Another Recall: Back Door May Come Open • Ford To Replace Focus Fuel Modules • Feds Probe Focus Fires • Focus Setting Recall Record • Focus Recall (Oct. 2000)

It's unfortunate for everyone when an economy car has this many problems. It's especially rough on the poor customers, who presumably are on tight budgets and unable to pour time and money into keeping their supposed economy car running.

Here are a few of the more recent complaints:

Melodie of Kirkland, WA August 29, 2007

Melodie of Kirkland WA (08/29/07)
I bought a used 2003 Ford Focus ZX3 last July. It only had 17,000 miles on it when I bought it. I began to have problems with my ignition about 6 months later. The key wouldn't turn at all. I would sit for an hour or so continuously trying to turn it and it would eventually click and turn. I called the dealer and spoke to the service department and he said he hadn't heard of any recalls or issues but a new ignition would cost 360.00 or so. A few more months went by and the problem occured again and no matter what I tried it wouldn't work. I called the dealer again and this time the service guy said try hitting the key with the palm of your hand while it's in the ignition. It worked everytime......until yesterday. I got stuck in a bad neighborhood with the hot sun blazing down on me for over an hour. I got so angry that I hit the key with all the frustration I had and it clicked and turned. Now I am afraid to take the key out in fear I will never get it to work again. I think Ford played dumb about the ignition as I have read all these complaints. I have had cars for 15 years without ever having to replace an ignition. Obviously there is a problem and Ford should step up and replace the faulty ignitions. Or is it our punishment for buying american???

Leesa of Houma, LA August 29, 2007

Leesa of Houma LA (08/29/07)
My daughter just called me she went to start her car, 2005 Ford Focus and the key will not turn. She is stuck in a parking lot. She is away at college and in no way can afford to repair this problem. From what I read it seems that Ford needs to do a recall on this ignition cylinder and get these fixed. This is not the first problem she has had with this car. She called me once while going down the road at 50 mph saying that her car just dies out. This has happened several times to her.We helped her buy this car to go away to college, but now I feel like it is not a safe car. I am so mad about this ignition problem right now. Another costly repair to fix this car and Ford does not seem to care about these problems. I just spoke with her again and she is waiting on a tow truck once again to tow this piece of junk to the repair shop again!!!

Joyce of Ellijay, GA August 29, 2007

Joyce of Ellijay GA (08/29/07)
I purchased my 2006 Ford Focus and thought I had a decent vehicle. Since I purchased this vehicle it has been at the dealership more than it is on the road. Within 1 month the brakes were not functioning. The master cylinder had to be replaced. The brake pads have been replaced. Since then it is in and out of the shop every 2 weeks to a month for noisy brakes. I have not received any recall or information in the mail regarding any recalls or issues.

Last month I had a wreck which I believe resulted in the brakes again, however, can not prove it. After I got the vehicle repaired I took it into the dealership again for the noisy brakes. Today they called to tell me this is a common problem with the vehicle and I will just have to live with it and it probably will be a problem with all ford vehicles eventually due to the fact they can not use better brake pads. They told me there are better brake pads however Ford will not allow them to use them. I don't know why we as consumers have to just live with a problem when we shell out good money for our vehicles in the hope they will last us for a long time. The air bag light went on and would not go off.

I took it in only to find there was a loose wire in the console and I had to pay for the repair. Why did I have to pay for the repair I asked? They said because it was not covered under warranty. If there was a loose wire when the vehicle was made it should not be my problem. I gurantee you I will never buy another ford product due to these problems and I will be unloading this one as soon as I can afford to. I, as well as people who buy a low income vehicle, am not a rich person so will have to wait to purchase another one. Buyer be ware.

Bradley of Vancouver, WA August 27, 2007

Bradley of Vancouver WA (08/27/07)
Another Ford Focus consumer with a faulty ignition switch. Same as all the others, one day the key just won't turn in the ignition. Rattling the key, turning the steering wheel etc...no luck. I read about the other Focus owners taking their cars to the dealer (which the dealer will replace the broken faulty ignition switch for another faulty ignition switch) and decided that a locksmith will build one for me for the same price.

Kelly of Strykersville, NY August 27, 2007

Kelly of Strykersville NY (08/27/07)
Like everyone else, my ignition cylinder froze this weekend. I pulled into a driveway and when I tried to start the car about a half hour later, the key would not turn. There were no symptoms leading up to the incident and until now I've only had minor problems with the car. My family likes the Focus so much that my two sisters drive the same car. I even have the extended 100,000 mile warranty. Well, after finding out from the internet, the tow truck driver, and the DEALERSHIP that this was more than a common problem with the Focus, it was not even covered under the warranty. It costs 211.44 if you have the dealer fix it. Needless to say, I'm pissed.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |